Spice packaging and distribution including the use of scannable codes

ABSTRACT

Spices are packaged in a card format. In one embodiment, multiple pods of a single spice are adhered to a card. The spices are used in a “peel off, peel open” manner. That is, a pod is peeled off the card; then a seal of the pod is peeled open to allow the spice to be poured out. Remaining pods continue to be adhered to the card and stored for later use. Cards for different spices are readily grouped together, such as in a box or tin. If the cards are made relatively thin, dozens of different spices can be conveniently stored in a compact box or the like. Preferably, card backs are printed with the name of the spice and possibly other information about the spice. If the spices cards are arranged together alphabetically, in a “spice index” arrangement, a desired spice may be found very readily.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to spice packaging and distribution.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Spices have traditionally been packaged in small jars. A typical home might have a spice cupboard or a spice drawer holding a dozen or even several dozen such jars. Alternatively, various spice holders are used in an attempt to make spice storage more organized and convenient. Other types of spice packaging arrangements are also known. In one such arrangement, spice is packaged by the teaspoon in slender plastic pouches. Multiple such pouches are packaged in a tin or box. In another arrangement, marketed under the brand name “Recipe Inspirations,” pre-measured spices for a recipe are provided in disposable pods and inserted into a folded card structure (typically about 4″×6.5″) on which the recipe is printed.

A need remains for spice packaging and distribution arrangements that increase selection and convenience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The present invention may be further understood from the following description in conjunction with the appended drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a front plan view of a spice card.

FIG. 1B is a side view of the spice card of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is a rear plan view of the spice card of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a box housing a collection of spice cards like that of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating spice card reordering.

FIG. 4A is a plan view of another spice card.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the spice card of FIG. 4A from the direction A-A.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of yet another spice card.

FIG. 6A is an end view of a spice card in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a side view of the spice card of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 6C is a top view of the spice card of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is is a top view of another spice card.

FIG. 8 is a partial view of a laminate that may be used in the spice card of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9A is a cross sectional view of a cell of the spice card of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9B is a cross sectional view like that of FIG. 9A following pressing of the cell.

FIG. 10A is a top view of an open cell.

FIG. 10B is a top view of a modified open cell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Summary

As described herein, spices are packaged in a card format. A spice card may comprise a plastic card defining one or more cells filled with spice and sealed, wherein the plastic card has a thickness less than or equal to one centimeter. In one embodiment, multiple pods of a single spice are adhered to a card. The spices are used in a “peel off, peel open” manner. That is, a pod is peeled off the card; then a seal of the pod is peeled open to allow the spice to be poured out. Remaining pods continue to be adhered to the card and stored for later use. Cards for different spices are readily grouped together, such as in a box or tin. If the cards are made relatively thin, dozens of different spices can be conveniently stored in a compact box or the like. Preferably, card backs are printed with the name of the spice and possibly other information about the spice. If the spices cards are arranged together alphabetically, in a “spice index” arrangement, a desired spice may be found very readily.

In another embodiment, card backs are printed or otherwise provided with machine-recognizable indicia or information, allowing a card to be reordered using a mobile electronic device, for example a smartphone. The information may be in the form of a QR code or other visual information, or may be information that is read electromagnetically (e.g., RFID, NFC, etc.). Alternatively, the information may be a number or text string to be texted to a number or short code. The reordering process is preferably a “one-click” process requiring only user confirmation (or, in a text-message-based system, optional disconfirmation), or even a “none-click” process. Such reordering is widely applicable, for example to toner cartridges and all types of “disposables.” The format of the card allows the replacement to be conveniently mailed.

Other card formats of similar size may be provided. In one embodiment, a single spice reservoir is provided, together with a thumb-operated pour opening. In another embodiment, a single spice reservoir is provided with a lift-off cap. In another embodiment, the spice package may be similar to a known gum package, e.g., the 12-piece package of Trident White™ sugar free gum. Instead of “peel and dump,” use will involve a “poke-through eject” type of operation. Such operation will allow the cell to be filled full. If any caking occurs, the ejection will operate to re-loosen the spice contents.

Description

Referring now to FIG. 7, a diagram is shown of a spice package 700 in accordance with one embodiment. In this embodiment, the spice package, or spice card, may be similar to a known gum package, e.g., the 12-piece package of Trident White™ sugar free gum. In one embodiment, the cells 701 a-701 n are made about 20% thinner than in the case of the gum package, while increasing the other dimensions of the cell to maintain about the same cell volume. In one embodiment, 12 cells are provided, each cell being filled with ¼ teaspoon of the same spice. (In other embodiments, different cells may be filled with different spices. Also, the amount of spice provided in each cell may vary. Moreover, the cells may be different sizes such that different amounts of spice are provided in different cells.) The cells are sealed using an appropriate sealing material, for example metal foil. A cardboard sleeve may be provided where the opening corresponds with the long side of the package. Two rows of twenty or more such “spice cards” may readily be housed, standing on end, in a box of compact size, roughly 6×6×6″. (Words of approximation, except as otherwise noted, are used herein to mean plus or minus twenty percent of nominal value.) The spice name may be printed on the top of the sleeve, and reorder information may be printed elsewhere on the sleeve.

Depending on the nature and thickness of the sealing material or sealing foil, it may be necessary to provide a piercing action in order to break open the seal of a cell to allow the contents of the cell to be emptied out. One manner in which this may be accomplished is illustrated in FIGS. 8-10. The cells are configured to have a thick body portion more resistant to deformation and a thin connecting portion less resistant to deformation, each cell being configured such that pressing on the thick body portion causes movement of the cell in such a way as to break the seal of the cell.

Such a configuration may be achieved, for example, by forming a laminate film that includes a continuous layer and a discontinuous layer, a portion of the latter of which may be shown for example in FIG. 8 (not to scale). Each of the squares 801 in FIG. 8 coincides with a main body of a cell. Surrounding voids 803′ coincide with flexible joining members 803 formed by the continuous layer (not shown). During thermoforming, the flat (continuous) surface of the laminate film, to which a sealing material will be sealed, faces up, and the featured (discontinuous) surface faces down. A thermoforming die may be shaped to accommodate bridging segments 805, as needed.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the thermoforming die may be configured such that the joining members 803 a, 803 b (single-layered and flexible) are angled downward, away from the sealing material 901. The angle allows for a hinging action to be achieved. As shown in FIG. 9B, when upward pressure is applied to the cavity 909 (double layered and less flexible), a hinging action occurs and the body of the cavity pierces the sealing material 901.

The joining members 803 may be arranged symmetrically around the cavity as shown in FIG. 10A. In this instance, the location where the foil is first pierced may vary from cell to cell and from press to press. Alternatively, joining members 1003 may be arranged asymmetrically as shown in FIG. 10B. In this instance, the location where the foil is pierced and how the cell contents empty is more predictable.

Referring to FIG. 2, cards for different spices are readily grouped together, such as in a box or tin 200. If the cards are made relatively thin, dozens of different spices can be conveniently stored in a compact box or the like. Preferably, card backs are printed with the name of the spice and possibly other information about the spice. If the spices cards are arranged together alphabetically, in a “spice index” arrangement, a desired spice may be found very readily.

During use, a user locates a desired spice and, if the corresponding spice card is stored in a sleeve, removes the spice card from the sleeve. The user then positions the spice card over a bowl or the like and pushes on a cell of the spice card to pierce the foil and empty the contents of the cell. This same operation is repeated as many times as necessary according to how much spice a cell holds and the amount of spice desired. For example, if a cell holds ¼ teaspoon of spice and 1 teaspoon of spice is called for, then this operation would be repeated four times.

In one embodiment, the box or tin 200 is arranged to hold two rows of spice cards so that a for a given spice a partially used spice card and a new spice card may both be stored in the box or tin, for example side-by-side in one row, adjacent one another in different rows, etc.

Provision is made for simple reordering, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Card backs are printed or otherwise provided with machine-recognizable indicia or information 301, allowing a card to be reordered using a mobile electronic device, for example a smartphone 303. The information may be in the form of a QR code or other visual information, or may be information that is read electromagnetically (e.g., RFID, NFC, etc.). Alternatively, the information may be a number or text string to be texted to a number or short code. The reordering process is preferably a “one-click” process requiring only user confirmation (or, in a text-message-based system, optional disconfirmation), or even a “none-click” process.

In one embodiment, the user registers through a web site, establishing an account enabling future orders to be paid for. When the user scans a code or sends a text to order a spice card, the code is sent through the internet 305 to a server 307 (through a cell tower, for example, or through an access point or other wireless transceiver 309). In addition, an identifier associated with the sending device is received. If this identifier is being received for the first time, the user is prompted to log in, call, or take other action in order to associate that device with a previously-established user account. Account information may be accessible to the server 307, for example. A spice card associated with the code is then sent to the user, whose account is then charged. The next time the user scans a code or sends a text to order a spice card, the sending device is recognized for purposes of account identification.

If the cards are made relatively thin, they may be readily shipped through the mail at low cost. In one embodiment, the user is prompted to save the cardboard sleeve from before such that only the spice card itself need be mailed.

In accordance with a further embodiment, a transaction document such as an invoice, a packing slip or the like, instead of being mailed or shipped, is represented by an code such as a QR code 310 or the like applied to an envelope in which the spice card is mailed. By scanning the code using a smartphone, the document or documents may be retrieved and saved, printed if desired, etc.

Spice cards may take various other different forms. Referring to FIG. 1, in another embodiment, multiple pods of a single spice are adhered to a card. In one embodiment, the spice card has dimensions of 3″×5″ or less (for example, 2″×3.5″). In one embodiment, the thickness of the spice card is about ¼ inch. In another embodiment, the thickness of the card is one centimeter or less. The spices are used in a “peel off, peel open” manner. That is, a pod is peeled off the card; then a seal of the pod is peeled open to allow the spice to be poured out. Remaining pods continue to be adhered to the card and stored for later use.

Other card formats of similar size may be provided. Referring to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, in one embodiment, a single spice reservoir is provided, together with a thumb-operated pour opening. As shown in FIG. 5, the single spice reservoir may be provided with a lift-off cap to allow for easy refilling.

Referring to FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, in another embodiment, a spice card is formed in one piece in such as way as to provide a shroud surrounding the cells. The shroud provides a finished appearance and makes a sleeve unnecessary. Labeling information may be provided on what is the top-facing portion of the shroud when the card is housed in a box or tin. Reordering information may be provided on a sealing surface or may be applied by printing or by sticker or in some other fashion to the back of the card (not shown).

It will be apparent to those skilled in the part that the present invention can be embodied in different forms without departing from the spirit or essential character thereof. The disclosed embodiments are therefore intended in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, not the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. An assortment of spices, comprising a plurality of spice cards and a container containing the plurality of spice cards, each of said spice cards comprising a plurality of sealed cells, each cell belonging to a particular spice card containing a pre-measured volume of a particular spice.
 2. A spice card comprising a plurality of sealed cells, each cell containing a pre-measured volume of an identical spice.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the spice card has dimensions of about 3 inches by 5 inches or less.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each cell contains about one quarter teaspoon of spice.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each cell contains about one quarter teaspoon of spice.
 6. A method of dispensing a pre-measured volume of a spice using a spice card comprising a plurality of sealed cells, each cell containing a pre-measured volume of an identical spice, the method comprising pressing on one or more cells to break seals of the one or more cells, causing contents of the one or more cells to be emptied by gravity. 7.-11. (canceled) 